Bummer – Paul Ryan Says He’s Not Running

I thought Rep. Paul Ryan would have made a fine addition to the GOP presidential primary field. But apparently it’s not to be. According to The Weekly Standard Ryan said he isn’t running.

Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan has decided for a final time that he will not run for president in 2012, THE WEEKLY STANDARD has learned. Ryan, who began seriously considering a bid in late May after Indiana governor Mitch Daniels took himself out of the race, had consulted with top Republicans, including Karl Rove and Frank Luntz, as he contemplated his political future. And though many of those he talked with told him he would be a viable candidate in such a fluid race, even as a late entry, Ryan ultimately decided to continue his focus on debt and entitlement reform as chairman of the House Budget Committee.

Follow the link for Ryan’s statement on the subject. On the bright side, having Ryan in a House leadership position will come in handy should the GOP take the presidency and a majority in the Senate next November.

[…] for him to run for President in the not too distant future. However, I tend to think, as does the Lonely Conservative, that Ryan’s best place for the GOP and the USA is in the House. This is a good call on […]

If it’s a bummer to anyone that Ryan isn’t running, it’s a bummer to the Democrats. Lonely Conservative, what disqualifies you from being a credible political pundit is your very own lack of credible punditry.
Now let’s rationalize here for a moment. If Obama’s to retain the White House it will require something like, maybe, key states? Key states do play a significant role in things like presidential elections.
When you look at Ohio, Michigan, Florida, and quite possible Indiana, the mood there isn’t exactly Republican friendly. Granted, Mike Savage, Sean Hannity, Moonbattery.com, and perhaps you yourself might make asinine claims to the contrary but that doesn’t really effect the discontent, resentment, and buyer’s remorse of those state constituents. Now if you look at Wisconsin, such a figure would only energize the left leaning base more. After the ass kicking Republicans took in WI and Walker just a few months away from a possible ouster, what would Ryan gain by fueling the fire? What would Democrats gain?

Also, if Ryan went down in flames (and he would), down goes his Medicaid killing agenda. Bachmann, Perry, West, et al can fall but that doesn’t take Ryan’s dream of ending Medicaid with them. There’s a lot of eggs in that basket.

On another note, the list of GOP nominees will have to focus more on quality and less on quantity. Lord knows, GOP extreme nut cases are a dime a dozen. Finding a credible challenger to appeal to the Independent base is what’s missing. Ryan doesn’t fit that suit.